By Shelley Kofler, KERA
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-968818.mp3
Dallas, TX – Mayoral contests in Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving are all headed for run-offs.
In Dallas, a field of four competed to succeed Mayor Tom Leppert who left office early. Former Pizza Hut CEO and homeless advocate Mike Rawlings captured the most votes, 41 percent. Former Police Chief David Kunkle received 32%, and will now go head-to-head with Rawlings in a June 18 runoff race.
Rawlings has spent more than a million dollars so far. He says he'll continue to campaign as the candidate who can lure new businesses to Dallas.
Rawlings: I think our message resonates with everybody throughout the city: pro-growth, make sure government works for you; keep taxes low; strong neighborhoods, and that's what people are exited about.
Former Police Chief Kunkle says his emphasis on revitalizing neighborhoods sets him apart.
Kunkle: When I decided to run there were things that were important to me. That was primarily that Dallas neighborhoods needed more attention - that we were overtaxes and underserved.
In the race for Fort Worth mayor county Tax Assessor Betsy Price lead four opponents with 43 percent of the vote. She'll now square off against former councilmember and attorney Jim Lane who received 26% of the vote.
Price says she's a fiscal conservative who can bring better budgeting to city hall.
Price: I think the voters want to hear that this is going to be a city that delivers a product to them for their tax payer dollars. We have been all over the county all over the city. I've worked with everyone. Jim's has been largely to the North Side.
Lane says he could better run Fort Worth because he learned how it works while serving on the city council.
Lane: I had twelve years on that city council. I know what it takes to be a mayor. I've served with three great mayors. Just the reality of good old common sense is what really needs to take place at City Hall. Nothing's going to change overnight. Remember that neighborhoods are the most important thing in our city.
Irving's Incumbent Mayor Herbert Gears is also headed for a runoff after placing second in a close race with former councilmember Beth Van Duyne. Van Duyne claims Gears has financially mishandled the contract for Irving's $250 million entertainment center. Gears says Van Duyne is wrong.
In other mayoral contests, Arlington's Robert Cluck kept his seat. Farmers Branch narrowly elected two-term councilmember Bill Glancy over Charlie Bird to succeed anti-immigration mayor Tim O'Hare. Frisco re-elected Maher Maso.
In Mesquite voters gave grocery stores the right to sell beer and wine. In Southlake voters said "no" to package liquor stores. In Frisco voters revoked bonds for a Collin County performing arts center. Allen and Plano will have to decide if they still want to build the center without Frisco's financial support.